Fernando Cruz

Fernando da Conceição Cruz (born 12 August 1940) is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a left back.

Cruz (third player from right) with Benfica in a friendly match against Ajax in 1965

Born in Lisbon, Cruz was already first-choice with S.L. Benfica at the age of 20, going on to win eight national championships with the club as well as four Portuguese Cups. He played in all five European Cup finals the side reached in the 60s, winning the 1961 and 1962 editions and appearing in 346 official games during his 11-year stint (one goal).

Cruz ended his playing career in June 1971, after one year with newly formed French team Paris Saint-Germain FC.

Cruz played 11 matches for Portugal, his first appearance being on 21 May 1961 in a 1–1 friendly draw with England. He was included in Otto Glória's squad for the 1966 FIFA World Cup finals, failing to make an appearance for the third-placed nation.

Club

Benfica

• European Cup: 1960–61, 1961–62; Runner-up 1962–63, 1964–65, 1967–68
• Primeira Liga (8): 1959–60, 1960–61, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69
• Taça de Portugal (3): 1961–62, 1963–64, 1968–69, 1969–70; Runner-up 1964–65
• Taça de Honra (2)

Country

Portugal

• FIFA World Cup: Third-place 1966

• ^ "Bicampeões para a história" [Back-to-back champions for the ages]. Visão (in Portuguese). Portugal: Impresa Publishing. May 2015. p. 47. ISSN 0872-3540.